The History of Rock Salt

Nowadays, rock salt is one of the cheapest products we can find in the market, although, a long time ago, things weren’t like this. To understand its journey, it’s essential to explore where rock salt comes from and how it has shaped different industries over time.

The Ancient Value of Salt

A long time ago, salt was a highly valued good, even used as an exchange currency, and had many applications in common people’s life.

Rock salt had an important role in religious ceremonies in many cultures, as a representation of what is pure. For example, in the Bible, we may find more than 20 references about rock salt. Additionally, its influence extended to economies and trade, which you can learn more about in this article on how rock salt influences the global economy.

Mummification and Preservation

Another easy reference for exemplifying the attributes of rock salt would be mummification in ancient Egypt, which required big quantities of salt for the conservation of the bodies that, to this day, we can still appreciate in Cairo’s museum.

Early Use and Trade of Rock Salt

Commonly, salt was already being used before 2,700 A.D. The earliest manuscript on rock salt was located in China and is 4,710 years old. It’s a writing that talks about more than 40 different types of salt. Even the Great Wall of China benefitted from rock salt sales during construction.

Greece was one of a handful of countries that made some trade exchanges using salt as a currency. Their trade consisted of the exchange of salt for slaves. The idiom “not worth a pinch of salt” originated with this interaction.

The Roman Empire and Salaries

In Rome, it was also used as part of the salary paid to soldiers. Rock salt was a really expensive good and was also used to differentiate between rich and poor people. During medieval times and the Renaissance, salt was positioned on the table close to the richest people in society. Only rich people were considered honorable enough to consume this good.

Salt’s Influence on History

In France, monarchs implemented a monopoly on salt production, and lack of salt was one of the main causes for the French Revolution.

Many years later in history, what was once considered a currency by old cultures, as well as one of the main causes for the end of European monarchies, rock salt, is today readily available for everyone at the table.

Modern Uses of Rock Salt

In the next article, which deals with major uses for industrial salt, we will see how rock salt is applied in many different fields, from road safety to chemical industries.

Finally, if you need more information about any of our rock salt products, please check out our contact page or email us at info@maxisalt.com.